Sunday, July 15, 2012

Joel Bible Study Notes Chapter 1

7/14/2012

Joel 1

-Joel, the son of Pethuel, records the word of the LORD in
this short book primarily warning Judah of God’s impending judgment in the day
of the LORD because of their sins and urging them to turn back to God before it
is too late. Joel’s ministry goes from approximately 835 BC to 796 BC and
little is known of this prophet other than what is given in the Scriptures. He
probably lived in or near Jerusalem. Judah had been become prosperous and
complacent, taking God for granted and becoming self-centered with idolatry and
sin. This kind of activity inevitably will eventually bring the judgment of the
LORD. This will have an impact on the short term as well as the great and
awesome time in the last days when God consummates all things.

-This message that Joel is giving from the LORD is to be
told to sons, sons’ sons, and future generations (Joel 1:3). There is the imagery
of the locusts devouring the rich and luxuriant fields leaving desolation and wailing.
This represents, as we see in verse 6, an invading army who is mighty and
without number with strong bite and force. It makes the land a waste and
consumes everything in it (Joel 1:7). *Application* Sudden destruction is a
fearful and devastating concept for us as humans to fathom. We see it in nature
(i.e. tornados, fires, hurricanes, floods, etc.) and sometimes through human
means (i.e. atomic or nuclear weaponry). Joel is preparing his people and us of
the coming judgment of the LORD upon this world by using foreshadowing. It will
be a time of mourning and woe, which the world has yet to experience. Joel was
calling the people to awake out of their stupor and repent (Joel 1:5). It would
behoove us as well to open sensible eyes and hears to the reality of a world
gone far from the LORD. Return to Him before it is too late. Accept His grace
and mercy in times of distress and judgment. He is calling you. He is our only
hope.

-The grain and drink offering is cut off from the house of
the LORD (Joel 1:9, 13b). This has happened and will happen again in the great
tribulation. There is great mourning and wailing as the Temple and land lay in
ruins. Nature itself is reeling from the effects of this judgment. Shame and
agony grip the inhabitants and rejoicing dries up in these days.

-The call goes out to put on sackcloth and consecrate a fast
proclaiming a solemn assembly gathering all the elders and inhabitants of the
land to the House of the LORD. “Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is
near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty (Joel 1:15).” Even the
beasts are groaning in the conditions they are under where finding food is
futile. There is no pasture for them and the cattle wonder aimlessly; even the
sheep suffer (Joel 1:18). The call for the people is to cry out to God (Joel
1:14b, 19) in their misery. *Application* There come times in our lives that
all we can do is cry out to the LORD in our hurt and suffering. The New
Testament speaks often about encountering these trials of life as a means of
spiritual growth and proven character (Romans 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2
Thessalonians 1:4, James 1:2-3). Allow the LORD to show you “what” He wants to teach
you when trials and suffering come. The “what” is a better question to Him than
“why?”